parietal
|pa-ri-e-tal|
/pəˈraɪətəl/
related to a wall
Etymology
'parietal' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'parietalis', where 'paries' meant 'wall'.
'parietalis' passed into Late/Medieval Latin and was borrowed into English (from scientific Latin usage) as 'parietal' in modern usage.
Initially it meant 'of or relating to a wall,' and over time it came to be used especially for 'relating to the wall of a bodily cavity' and for anatomical names such as the parietal bone and parietal lobe.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an anatomical structure called a parietal bone (often used in plural: parietals).
The archaeologist examined the parietal to determine age and sex.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a (historical/college) regulation or visitation hour restricting access between sexes; often used in the plural 'parietals'.
During the 19th century some colleges enforced strict parietals.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to the wall of a body part or cavity (opposed to visceral).
The surgeon described the parietal peritoneum during the operation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/06 02:06